English/Nat The U-S Senate's acquittal of President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice has been met with relief by many senators. The acquittal ends a 13-month drama that catapulted Clinton's affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky into only the second presidential impeachment trial in history. The vote allows the 42nd president of the United States to finish his term in office. As the Senate voted, reporters in the nearby Senate gallery watched closely. Chief Justice William Rehnquist declared, in open session, that U-S President Bill Clinton was acquitted of the charges. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Two thirds of the Senators present, not having pronounced him guilty, the Senate adjudges that the respondent, William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, is not guilty as charged in the second article of impeachment." SUPER CAPTION: William Rehnquist, Chief Justice Senators voted 50-50 on the impeachment article accusing Clinton of obstruction of justice in concealing his affair with Monica Lewinsky - far short of the two-thirds required for conviction. Earlier, senators rejected the charge of perjury by a 55-45 vote, with ten Republicans joining the Democrats. Shortly after the votes, Rehnquist banged his gavel to end the five-week trial. Two Democrats senator were first to give their reactions. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Let me just start by saying that as the roll was called, as the decision was made, I thought to myself the constitution lives... in protecting the American people from partisan acts that would create turmoil and do great damage to our country." SUPER CAPTION: Tom Harkin, Democrat, Iowa SOUNDBITE: (English) "This is the end of a long sad year, and I think people in the country, and all of us, are ready to get back to work." SUPER CAPTION: Paul Wellstone, Democrat, Minnesota Republican Orrin Hatch warned Clinton not to gloat over the result of the impeachment trial. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I don't think he should repeat the pep rally in the Rose Garden that happened after the impeachment day - that was, in my opinion, obscene and wrong. He's been given a second life here by the Senate of the United States, and thus the whole Congress, and now he ought to be interested in living up to that and doing what he can." SUPER CAPTION: Orrin Hatch, Republican, Utah Senate Majority leader Trent Lott immediately put the impeachment vote behind him and said it was time to move forward. SOUNDBITE: (English) "While I feel that the two articles of impeachment were proven, and I voted guilty on both counts, that was not the conclusion of the Senate. And so that is done and the impeachment trial is over and now we will prepare to move forward with a legislative agenda." SUPER CAPTION: Trent Lott, Senate Majority leader, Republican, Mississippi The 13 House impeachment managers beat a hasty exit from the Senate after the acquittal. Speaking from the House Judiciary Committee room, they declared themselves satisfied with their performance, but not with the precedent set by the decision. In defeat, the lead House prosecutor said his team had no regrets. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Well good afternoon, it's been quite a noon hour. We faced a critical choice - we could have studied the polls and listened to the pundits and decided that following the constitution was not in our political best interests, but we didn't do that. Instead we studied the constitution, reviewed the precedents and proceeded forward according to the law. Five months later after a trial, and, need I say, much tribulation, I have no regrets. We fulfilled our oath of office to discharge our duty according to the constitution." SUPER CAPTION: Henry Hyde, House Judiciary Committee Chairman You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1494da3844fd6fb95a6461ee566ae016 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 30 Jul 2015
• views: 392